“I hate rain.”

“You love rain!” He winced when she pinned him with a fiery glare. Perhaps now wasn’t the time to remind her of her love for all things spring.

“I hate rain almost as much as I hate showers.”

“But you love showers…”

Eyes narrowed, lips pinched, the look matched the blue tinge to her skin. “And how would you know?”

“You’re…uh…dripping…” He had the audacity to point at growing pool puddling at her feet…and onto his new carpet.

“Using those keen observation skills again, are you? Amazing how you’ve managed to hold onto all that Quantico training.”

Yep she was steamed…or soaked to the skin…either way, it didn’t bode well for him. He was the one who had fixed her car…and the hot water tap in her bathroom but he hadn’t ordered the weather though it looked like she was going to pin that on him too. He was working his way into an indignant defense when she sneezed…and followed it up with a violent shiver.

“You’re cold.” If looks could kill he’d be six feet under.

“That’s likely due to the cold shower I was forced to take this morning, followed by the walk in the cold rain since my car broke down half way here and you wouldn’t answer your phone and now that I am here our plans are ruined anyway because I can’t go out like….achoo….this.”

“Ah…you don’t look so bad…I heard the wet look was coming back in.” That, evidently wasn’t the right thing to say either.

“C-c-c-can y-y-y-ou just drive me h-h-h-ome, P-p-p-please?”

“What and ruin the leather interior of my car?” He ducked even though a violent shudder took the impact out of her halfhearted jab. “I’ve got just the thing to improve your outlook,” he hastened to assure her.

“What?” She asked in grumpy disbelief.

“A shower…lots of steam…endless hot water…” and endless possibilities…now where had that thought come from?


“I told you I HATE showers.” Tara protested.

“Aw… c’mon… let’s get you warmed up… besides…. While you shower, I can put your clothes in the dryer so that they’re nice and warm when you get out.” Bobby pleaded with her. “That way you won’t drip on my interior.”

She gave him a dark and dirty look. Oh yeah… he was a dead man.

“Tara…” He tried to think of something different. “You can take a bath then.” He snapped his fingers at her. “That’s it… a nice hot bath… lots of bubbles… hot water… droplets of water trailing down your per…” His ears turned red and he stopped, unwilling to meet her eyes.

Tara studied him, an amused twinkle stealing into her eyes as she struggled to stay mad at him. “But if you wouldn’t have tried to fix my shower in the first place, I would have already showered in a hot shower.” It was a losing battle but she had to try.

“But Tara… you asked me to fix it.” He said, grateful for the lifeline that pulled him back from the brink of certain death. “Remember? You said you like how I look in a utility belt.”

Tara smiled in spite of her best intentions. “You do look better in that utility belt than D or Myles.” She allowed.

“And Jack.” Bobby watched her. “Jack too… he doesn’t look like he knows what any of the tools are for.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Say it Tara…”

She merely shrugged. “He might not look like he knows what they’re for… but he might know how to fix a shower.” She teased. “And a car.”

“Sparky?” Bobby scoffed. “The man who put his car in the river? I doubt it.”

“At least he can drive.”

“Oh that’s it.” Bobby rolled his eyes. “You’re so gonna get it for that one.” He lunged for her, chasing her as she squealed and took off through his place, droplets of water flying after her as she tried to escape his long arms.

1) Bobby, shut up

2) Tara, take his offer

3) the two of 'em... very cute

YAY! another story. Love it so far, can't wait to see what happens next. I agree, Tara and Bobby are so cute!!!

Well, this makes up for you finishing your other story. Yep -- if the FBI thing doesn't work out, couldn't you see Bobby as the carpenter hunk on a decorating reality show?
That struck me as sooooooooooooooooo funny. Can't wait to find out where they are in their relationship...or non-relationship and what Tara was headed to his place for in the first place.

kav

Bobby, you missed so many chances to zip your mouth

More, please!

Paula

This is great! Can't wait to see what happens next! Watch out critiquing Jack, though . . . You know there are lots of us whose mantra is

!!!!!!!

Love the story! Glad you've entered another one - that way I won't feel QUITE so addicted when I enter again!! It's fun, isn't it?

Catch you next post - soon?

Regina

This is so good already, Mione!! I can just see the look on Tara's face!! And, I can see Bobby standing there with his dimples and smile continuing to put his foot in his mouth!!!

I had to chuckle over the comment about Jack and the tool belt!! So true!!!

Joy

Jack who?

Whoo-hoo!

Mione, you've made my morning with this! You've started a new story and to top it off, it looks like Tara and Boby might already be involved... and if not, it doesn't seem like that's too far away.

“Are you sure that you hate showers still?” He asked, pulling her tightly against him when he’d caught her.

She gazed up into his face. “Depends… is it a shower of the alone variety?”

“Dunno… are you even into showers of the couple variety?” He asked, a thoughtful look on his face as he looked down at her.

“I might be… if it’s with the right guy.” Tara batted her eyelashes at him. “Are you that right guy?”

“Might be.” Bobby smiled, pushing her wet hair off of her face. “Why don’t we get you out of these wet things… and find out if I am after they’re in the dryer?” His eyes studied hers.

“Well… seeing as you’re now just as wet as I am.” She murmured, her breath hitching in her throat as she gazed at him, her hands stealing up to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. She put a little pressure on his neck until he bent his head to hers and she was able to kiss him, her mouth opening for him as he kissed her.

He groaned softly as her lips parted even more to allow him access. “We’re so close to not going anywhere today.” he said, pulling his head away to look at her.

“Just to the shower….” Tara’s eyes opened slowly and she smiled softly at him.

“Just to the shower.” Bobby smiled, kissing the tip of her nose. “So let’s get you taken care of.” He said, herding her towards the bathroom and he went in first to turn the water on for her… making sure that the water was the right temperature for her. He wasn’t paying attention and was caught off guard when Tara pulled her shirt and sweatshirt off in one motion, leaving her stripped and on display for his viewing.

She watched as his ears turned red before his eyes swept her body once before he met her eyes again and she smiled at him. For having been partners at work for years… and partners in bed for several months… he sure could be a little modest at times, she thought. “Like what you see?” She asked, her voice sultry.

“You know it.” He said, his eyes trailing down her body again as she undid her pants and gave a little wiggle to get them down over her hips. His body reacted to the sight and he drew in a deep breath. “I’ll uh… I’ll just get these into the dryer.” He said, reaching for her pile of clothes now that she was totally unclothed and lovely in his bathroom.

He wasn’t expecting to lose his balance and found himself face first into her stomach. He pressed a kiss to it before straightening up again and dropping another kiss on the tip of her nose before a huge shiver shook her slim frame again. He encouraged her to hurry up and get into the shower before he went to his laundry room and put her clothes in the dryer, contemplating if he should join her or not.

Bobby and Tara are definitely together - perfect!!!

He's contemplating joining her?? Was there ever a question???

Joy

Yeah, Bobby -- duh! What's to think about?!

kav

Can't wait for more!!!

+ Bobby = <---ME!

Would now be the appropriate time to activate GUESS?? (That still means "Give Us Exquisite Shower Scene," doesn't it?)

Let's see.... what could there be to comtemplate...? There's how late they'll be to where ever it is that they're going... or... Oh... never mind...
**********************************************************************

Tara shivered violently, waiting for the water to warm up more as she stood under it, reaching for some shampoo so that she could wash her hair… her cold shower that morning hadn’t done much to convince her that she’d washed her hair well at all. She thought about Bobby. Oh how she loved him. She loved him deeper than she’d ever loved anyone else at all. His strong shoulders… chiseled abdomen… She sighed. He certainly was one well made man.

She started slightly when the shower door opened and he stepped in with her.

“Fancy meeting you here.” He smirked at her before letting his fingers tangle in her hair as he helped her get the shampoo out of it.

“Uh yeah…” Tara couldn’t believe how inadequate her words always seemed to be when she was around him in a ‘less than dressed properly’ state.

Bobby studied her. “Are you okay?” He asked, finishing her hair and letting his hands settle on her shoulders.

Tara could only nod and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly as the hot water beat down on her back.

The close proximity of their wet bodies was driving Bobby crazy. “We uh… we should hurry.” He said, reaching for the shower gel to help her along. “I mean… we don’t’ want to garner any suspicion from the team by missing out completely. He let his soapy hands skim down her body, unable to resist sneaking a quick caress of her shapely rear. She was certainly one well put together woman.

“You’re right.” Tara sneezed a light sneeze, turning her head just in time to avoid sneezing on his chest. “We’re already late.”

“The clothes have to be dry though.” Bobby smiled at her before they put showering into more of a warp speed and finished quickly. He managed to find a towel to wrap her in before wrapping one around his waist. “You go ahead and get your hair done… I’ll be back in a jiffy with your clothes.”

Tara had just started drying her hair when he showed up without their clothes. “What?” She asked, looking at him.

“They’re not dry yet.” He said simply before taking the blow dryer from her hand and turning it off. He set it down.

“What are you doing… there’s still plenty to do with getting ready…” She protested as he grabbed her hand and tugged her close to him.

“Exactly.” He said softly before brushing his lips lightly across hers in a gentle kiss that cut off her protests, her hands reaching to wrap around his neck as her lips eagerly kissed him back. He shifted her so that he could pick her up and carried her into his bedroom and laid her down on the bed. He untucked the towel before exploring her body with bold caresses and gentle kisses, making her groan with her want for him before he made love to her.

Late . . . whats late? Hee hee

*Sigh* great post hun

I could definately handle be late....

Well, if you're already late, a little later doesn't matter, does it??? **sigh**

Joy

“I think the clothes are dry now…” Tara mumbled, pressing a kiss to his shoulder as he held her.

“Do we really have to go?” Bobby asked, one hand lazily rubbing her lower back as she snuggled into his warmth.

“I should think we have to. We’re so late it will be embarrassing.” She groaned. “What are we going to tell them?”

“They knew we were showing up together.” He said. “We’ll just tell the truth… your car broke down and you walked all the way here and I insisted we weren’t going anywhere until you and your clothes were properly dry.”

“And we’ll just leave out the rest of it.” She smirked. “Okay… that sounds like a plausible theory. I can handle that one. Now… let’s get out of here and get moving. Only Sue would want to have a baby shower combined with a community service opportunity.” She chuckled as she squirmed out of his arms and left the room, going in search of her clothes.

Bobby stretched out and watched her leave, studying how her hips swayed invitingly as she walked away. Oh… he liked this view a lot. Tara naked. He could see all her curves and just knew that one stroke of his hands down her body would have her trembling and begging for more.

Tara dug her clothes out of the dryer, putting them on as she pulled them out. She folded his clothes and stacked them on top of the dryer, figuring he would just get dressed. She of course, could have just gotten dressed if they were headed to work. She had plenty of work clothes here. But it was a Saturday and today was supposed to be casual… go spend time with the kids at the Children’s hospital and read stories and such… and then off to the restaurant for the baby shower. And work clothes would seem just a little too suspicious. When she was finally warmed by the dryer warmed clothes… and fully clothed again, she went back into the bedroom, putting his clothes on the dresser as she watched him dress.

“Ready?” Bobby raised an eyebrow at her.

Tara nodded. “I also figure that since we aren’t letting on to our relationship yet anyway… it doesn’t make sense for my hair to be anything more than just dried… and no make- up after being caught in the rain.”

“Ah…” he nodded. “Let’s go then.” He said, buckling his belt and grabbing his car keys and wallet. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips as he took her hand and they headed out to his car.

I love how you have them together, their interactions with each other. THe feelings they have for each other just shine through

Mione, that was a very delightful post!! I love how easy and comfortable they are with each other!! And, I'm impressed that they have managed to keep their relationship a secret!!!

So, Jack and Sue are married and Sue is expecting?? The outing and shower are going to be fun!!!

Joy

:Whimper:

I agree. Their relationship seems so easy and carefree, despite all the measures they have to take to keep it a secret.

Paula

What two great posts to catch up on!

Sairs

It's these tiny little details that make Tara the super special agent she is! Oh, mione, I had two rotten days...or maybe it was three? and I couldn't read my fanfics and I was suffering withdrawal but I'm much better now after getting a good dose of your
scene!!!! However, in order to prevent a relapse might I suggest that a few more are in order? Just so I can stay coherent enough to read your story, I mean.

kav

It might take a couple posts, Kav, before I can get Bobby and Tara back to fuzzy melty stage... And I'm heading to Oregon for Easter this morning... and will be back tomorrow night. **potential one tissue warning** Explanation ahead as to why Sue wanted to combine the visit to the children's hospital as part of her baby shower.
*********************************************************************

When they finally arrived, they endured a few looks… a raised eyebrow here and there from Lucy and Jack. Tara made a bee-line for Sue, giving her a hug before moving away and signing SORRY.

“What happened?” Sue asked. “I thought you’d forgotten.”

“No one called…?” Tara smiled.

“I was making Jack give you another twenty minutes.”

Tara shook her head. “Mr. Mechanic over there… didn’t do such a good job.” She glanced over at Bobby, seeing him talking to Jack and D. “I got stuck in the rain with a broken down car and had to walk to his house because he didn’t answer the phone. He refused to leave until I wasn’t so cold and wet.”

Sue smiled. “Sorry about the car… At least he cared enough to not make you look like a drowned rat.” She teased.

Tara rolled her eyes at her. “Whatever.” She said with a smile. “So… what do we have going on here?” She glanced around the large playroom. She could see that the others were already involved in something. Lucy was reading to a little girl with an oxygen mask on. Myles was engaged in a battle of Thomas the Tank Engine toys with a couple little boys who were begging him to do voices for their trains as they prepared to have the toys play ‘chicken’ on the play table. D was reading to another set of children and Jack was hunkered down at a tiny table, cutting out paper Easter eggs for the trio of little girls, that had tiara’s perched on top of their heads as they gazed adoringly at him before coloring on their eggs.

“I was thinking you might like to go spend some time with Sophie.” Sue said softly, resting a hand on her swollen belly before pointing at the little girl. “She’s been having a hard time today…”

Tara’s heart went out to the little forlorn looking child in the corner of the room. The team had been here several times over the last three years… while Sara Beth had been undergoing treatment for the cancer that had stricken Sue and Jack’s first daughter when she was a year old. The doctor’s had not caught the diagnosis quickly enough and even though they had attempted every possible treatment method… even sending the Hudson family to Memphis so that Sara Beth could undergo some treatments at the St. Jude research hospital… the cancer had been too much for the tiny little angel to fight at such a young age and they had lost their little girl just after her third birthday. It was during those hospital stays that the team had grown accustomed to spending time there, spending time in the children’s play room to do craft projects with them or to read stories to them. Sophie was one of those children that they had spent a lot of time with. “What’s wrong?” Tara asked.

“They found another tumor. Her mother is just simply beside herself because none of the treatments seem to work. I think they’re going to go to St. Jude next week.” Sue said. “I can’t thank St. Jude research hospital enough even though we lost Sara Beth…they did everything they could and I’m sure that we had her as long as we did because of what they were able to do for her.” She wiped away a tear that formed and threatened to fall.

Tara gave her a squeeze. “Sara Beth is up there in heaven right now, excited to pieces that she’s finally going to be a big sister.” She assured Sue. Sue gave her a small smile. That was why they were thrilled as well to finally be blessed with another child. They had been about to consider expanding their family again but then Sara Beth’s remission relapsed and they were spending day and night in the hospital again with her. “I’ll go spend time with her. Sophie and I go back a long ways.” Tara smiled and headed off for the little girl.

They didn’t do much… Sophie ended up flinging herself into Tara’s arms as soon as she sat down next to her and Tara pretty much held her the entire rest of their time there, reading a story to the five-year-old, smiling as she felt her relax. Sophie’s mom came back for her and Tara handed her over, watching as she wound her arms around her mom’s neck and gave Tara a watery smile before blowing her a kiss as they left the playroom. Tara moved Sophie up to the top of her prayer list and said a quick prayer for the little girl before she moved to a different area of the room, taking over reading from D as she led the kids in a rousing reading of ‘Green Eggs and Ham’.

I feel sorry for Sue and Jack to have lost a child and for Sophie who is fighting the same thing.

Mione, that was a heartwrenching post, but beautifully written!! You brought so many emotions into this scene!!!

Joy

I read this post earlier, but have just now been able to sit down long enough to respond. I wanted to think about it a little, anyway, before I did.

This was so beautiful. The humor shines through, but the heart shines through even more brightly. This is a situation you wouldn't want anyone to have to endure, especially our "dream team," but you have shown us that this is a group of people that we would want to spend time with, want to have them by our sides in times of trouble, and would want to help in any way possible when any of them are in trouble.

Thank you for a beautiful, realistic post. I know there will be trials ahead, but I think a happy ending is probably in store for them. At least I hope so . . . !

That was a beautifully written post that captured a very emotional situation.

Take care,

Sairs

The heartache jumps of the screen. You capture their emotions so well, that I could feel tears welling in my eyes. The loss of a child is such a horrible thing to bear. I can't imagine what it's like for Jack and Sue as well as Sophie's parents.

Paula

As always, Mione, you seem to bring our favorite characters to life with realistic scenarios. For Jack and Sue to have lost their first child, it must have been very difficult for them and the team as well.

But, with that dark cloud hovering overhead... I can only think of one thing... Uncle Bobby!

I have to agree with what everyone else has said. You have the ability bring our characters head on into real life, carrying us all along on the emotional journey. It's devastating that Jack and Sue lost their first child to cancer, but I'm proud of them being able to move on, but obviously not forgetting. What a beautiful tribute to their daughter having the baby shower at the hospital is. And now I understand why Bobby and Tara couldn't just play hookie from the outting.

kav

Oh Mione! What a beautiful story.
I love Bobby and Tara interaction.
That last post was heartbreaking but so beautiffuly written.
Josy

"Okay..." Sue smiled, looking at the group of her teammates after the last child had left the play room. Her smile became positively smirkish as she tried to keep from laughing at her husband.

Tara looked up from where she was straightening the books in the book area and wasn't as successful as Sue when it came to not laughing at Jack. "Looks like you had fun..." She managed to say.

"Yeah, Spark... are you sure you don't want to stay around here a little longer?" Bobby grinned as he ribbed his best mate. "That tiara looks awful cute sitting on top of your head."

The entire team howled with laughter as Jack made a sheepish look and moved to remove his tiara from his head. His trio of little girls had made an executive decision that he simply HAD needed to be just as decked out as they were. He was just grateful that they'd stopped with the tiara and hadn't insisted on the pink feather boa they were trying to loop around his neck. "Well..." He shrugged his shoulders, setting the tiara into the dress up box again. "When in Rome..." He shot Tara a look. "And no... I don't care to know where that phrase originated, Tippy."

Tara rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She said, signing it for emphasis before she applied herself to the task of setting the book area to rights again.

"Meet up at the restaurant in half hour." Sue said, smiling softly as she watched their team... their family... finish picking up the play room. She exchanged a look with Jack and he nodded... knowing that she was going to go spend some time in the chapel... she felt closest to SaraBeth up there.

Jack in a Tiara?

And if they'd added the boa... Oh what a sight it would have been!

LOL I would have loved to see that. Do you think the guys will ever let him live it down now?

Jack and tiara... C'mon Jack...I am with Tara...When in Rome, you do like....
Josy

Jack in a tiara is such a "Daddy" thing to do! Very sweet!

"Might be about 45 minutes for us." Jack said, having watched Sue leave with the formerly snoozing Levi.

The others finished what they were doing and nodded at his statement.

"It's just... well..." He shrugged his shoulders. "You know how she gets when we're here." He said.

Bobby reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Yeah mate. We know how she gets when we're here." He said. "We know how we all get when we're here."

"It's just as well actually if it takes you a little longer." Tara said. "Right Luce?"

"That's right. Take 45 ... it'll give us time to get to the restaurant and go in with the presents to decorate our area a bit anyway." Lucy smiled, even though her eyes looked a bit misty.

Jack managed a small smile as Myles and D agreed with her and the team was soon setting off to the restaurant as he headed upstairs to the chapel to find Sue. He leaned against the back wall, watching her.

Sue's lips moved silently as her hands moved at a furiously fast pace, either in a silent prayer for some of the children here or a prayer for their unborn daughter. Jack's brow furrowed slightly as he caught some of the signs. Maybe it wasn't a prayer at all, he mused. It almost seemed like it was more of a big sister lecture for Sara Beth. He supposed that if Sara Beth was looking over her baby sister right now then a lecture for their mischievious little girl would be in order. Otherwise, little Hannah Rose might think it was her duty to keep them up all night long for the first several weeks of her life, like Sara Beth had. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he remembered spending hours on end in the rocking chair. The only way Sara Beth would fall asleep at first was when he was telling her the story about landing on the chicken. No other story would do for their newborn.

Only that danged story about that rooster and the depressed hen house left behind.

He motioned for Levi to get Sue... they needed to get going if they were going to make it to the shower.

I love how Jack is taking care of her, knowing exactly what his wife needs.

Again, I love Jack in "Daddy" mode. That story will be a memory of his first child that he'll never forget. I really loved that.

Mione, you had me laughing at Jack, although I bet he was just as adorable in a tiara!! And, then you had me crying in the chapel!! So touching, sad but funny in its own way with Sara Beth only falling asleep after hearing her father tell the chicken story!! Hannah Rose is truly blessed with the parents she's getting!!!

And, Mione, we are truly blessed to have you sharing your stories with us!!!

Joy

The chicken story? That little girl was barely even born and she already knew how to torture her daddy.

And it seems like Sue to sign a lecture to her daughter to give to the next so little Hannah doesn't get Jack totally wrapped in the first week either. Of course, that's not possible, now is it?

Very sweet post Mione! Touching...
Josy

Daddy Jack is so sweet.

I love Jack's version of a bedtime story! This is so poignant...they're anticipating a new arrival, but still grieving for the loss of their first daughter. I love the image of a protective Jack hovering on the side lines, keeping watch over his wife and baby(ies).

Glad to see that the team is still as closely knit as ever and willing to share the burdens...and the joys that life has to give.

kav